13 A scandal and a bang![3]

Chi Lian was dancing with joy in her heart on the way home. She had managed to secure an exclusive piece of news for phoenix media. They would capture the whole operation from set off to finish. This would definitely put them on the map.

"Sis, I can't believe you are humming happily. I thought the minister would strangle you." Chi Wei still appeared grim and unnerved by what they had just experienced.

"For real sis, you went toe to toe with the Fearsome honored minister of security of this empire and lived to tell the tale. It was amazing; I wish we could have taped it for proof. Nobody will ever believe this story when I tell it." Chi Rui laughed.

"You are my older brothers. You cannot be timid, especially not in this line of work. We have to be brave to pursue justice and truth for the citizens of the empire."

She looked like a little heroine as she said this.

"Brother I think you should start working on the article we are going to use. It needs to be eye catching and provocative."

"Aye, Aye, captain." He saluted like a soldier and the siblings laughed.

"What do you think the rebels are planning though?" Chi Rui asked. With all the contagious excitement going around, the fear had yet to dissipate from his heart. Whatever the rebels were planning involved death. The potential for casualty was massive.

Chi Lian thought about the clues they had so far and still failed to piece it together. There was something lacking in the picture.

"The involvement of the real estate group must have something to do with land or buildings." Chi Wei figured.

An idea crossed Chi Lian's mind immediately. She needed to confirm her hypothesis with principal Wang first.

She picked up her phone and made a call,

"Lady Chi, I am so happy to hear from you. The children keep asking for you and I am running out of excuses to give them." She laughed. She sounded jovial, nothing like the stressed, overworked and heavily burdened woman she had met previously.

"Principal Wang how are the children?"

"These trouble makers are all fine. They are already looking healthy and well-dressed thanks to all the supplies you are providing for us."

"That's wonderful to hear. Principal Wang, I am calling because I want to ask if anybody has tried to buy the land that the orphanage sits on."

"Oh, someone did try to buy the orphanage about two years ago. The land is my family's private property so I refused to sell. What will happen to these children if I sell? In fact, two weeks later we stopped receiving aid. The pressure to sell increased. I think they took away the funds deliberately so that I could give in and sell the land."

"Hmm, I see. Thank you so much for telling me. Please tell the children that I will come and see them over the weekend."

"They will be so excited to hear that."

"Okay then. Goodbye."

"En_"

She hung up and smiled at her brothers, "You are right elder brother, someone tried to buy the orphanage two years ago. I think It's that general manager of Wuliang."

"We should check and confirm if it's true."

"I have a friend who will check the records of Wuliang and see if they have any interest in the orphanage. Now we just need to figure out why they took the children."

"Do you think it child trafficking? Could they be selling the children?" Chi Rui asked.

"No, they would not be holding them in such a place. Moreover, they would not have thrown Mei-Mei away. For child traffickers any child they can get hold of is a sum of money in their eyes." Chi Wei analyzed. "They must be planning something that only children can accomplish."

"Let's look at the clues, Children, rebels, explosive material. What do they add up to?"

"Are they going to blow up the children?" Chi Rui asked.

"I don't think so. They are orphans, not exactly high value targets."

"I have two more clues." T4 intervened. "School uniforms and school bags have been delivered to the warehouse."

Chi Lian remained silent for a while, "It can't be." She said aloud. Her eyes were wide in shock.

"What?" her brothers asked.

"They_, They can't possibly be planning what I am thinking! It's crazy and wicked."

The two brothers were filled with anxiety. Having a puzzle which did not fit was like having an itch that you could not scratch. If she had figured it out, they wanted to know.

"I think those monsters are planning to use the children to blow up something or someone."

"Huh." Her brothers gasped.

"Consider this, they grabbed a couple of orphans who would not be reported missing and even if they were reported, the investigations would be slow because there are no parents pressuring the police for answers. Then they bought explosives, uniforms and bags for the children. From my assessment, they will dress the children in uniforms, put explosives in their bags and drop them off in the places they are targeting. Most likely places are schools, play grounds, museums. Basically any place where children can be present without causing alarm."

"That totally makes sense sis. When did you become so smart?" Chi Wei was both shocked and proud to witness her growth from cry baby to power woman.

"We should call the commissioner and tell him. If this is true then those criminals need to be arrested immediately."

Chi Wei called Bolin and told him Chi Lian's theory immediately. Suddenly, the pressure to arrest the rebels quadrupled. If they succeeded in accomplishing their evil mission, the citizens would begin to think that there were weaknesses in the security of the empire.

Those who lost loved ones would hate the police and heads of state for failing to protect them. Such resentment would strengthen the power and influence of the rebels.

"What did he say?" she asked.

"Undercover officers are already present in the area. Tomorrow night, the operation is a go."

"Then we should go home and prepare for our part."

Despite the raging storm out there, the environment at home was quite tranquil. Mei-Mei was playing and clinging onto Chi Lian like a spider monkey.

Papa Chi was watching the evening news while Mama Chi prepared dinner.

Chi Zimo was playing games on his computer as always.

When Chi Lian looked at her family, she was filled with the urge to break the oath of secrecy they had been sworn to by the minister and tell her family about the impending danger in their city. Since she could not do that, she settled for the next best thing, she lied.

"Father, you and mum should stay home and look after Mei-Mei for the next few days. Some people are going around kidnapping children for ransom. Don't take her anywhere for a while. If you need anything, order for it online."

Her father wanted to argue but the solemn look on his daughters face portrayed the seriousness of the issue. Even her brothers had that same look on their faces. He knew his children well enough to know that they were hiding something from him.

"You too, Zimo, no leaving the house for the next two days."

"Eh, I am not a child_"

A slap on the back of his head cut him off. "It's not a request, it's an order."

"If he tries to leave this house, tie him up." Chi Wei ordered Chi Rui.

"I am going next door for a while." Chi Lian grabbed the flowers on the table and left the house.

"Whose flowers are those?" Chi Wei asked.

"I bought them for your mother." his father answered in confused shock. Why was his daughter stealing flowers that were meant for someone else and why was she going next door?

The three brothers looked at each other and run to the window facing the house next door.

Chi Lian was standing outside with a bouquet of flowers.

Unknown to the rest of the curious family that was desperate for a dash of gossip, Mei-Mei had followed her mother slowly.

The door was opened by a young man in spectacles dressed impeccably in a an expensive but wrinkled suit.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

"Is Jun Muyang here?" she asked and smiled sweetly. 'I am harmless and cute, please let me in.' her smile said.

"He is busy at the moment but if you can tell me your name I will tell him about your arrival."

Jun Muyang that she was longing to see made his way from his kitchen and paused when he saw her.

"Its you." he said.

Chi Lian pushed her way inside, "I missed you today Jun Muyang. Did you miss me?" She confidently walked up to him and stood right in front of him.

Jun Muyang was frozen in shock. 'The audacity of this woman!'

"I brought you these flowers. They smell as intoxicating as you do."

"Dada_" a little voice called.